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Pronoun Reference. Making Pronoun Reference Clear. Pronouns are used to replace nouns The words they replace are antecedents A sentence is unclear if the reader can’t identify the antecedent that the pronoun is replacing Thelma told Louise that she was going to drive Who’s driving?
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Making Pronoun Reference Clear • Pronouns are used to replace nouns • The words they replace are antecedents • A sentence is unclear if the reader can’t identify the antecedent that the pronoun is replacing • Thelma told Louise that she was going to drive • Who’s driving? • Thelma told Louise to drive. • I put my lighter beside the balloon and it exploded • The balloon exploded when I put my lighter beside it.
Make the pronoun refer to something • Sometimes people imply a reference without specifically stating it • In Brochet they trap for furs in the winter. • Who does “they” refer to? • People in Brochet trap for furs in the winter. or • People in Brochet live close to the land. They trap for furs in the winter. • In the text it states that “alot” is not a word. • What does “it” refer to? • The text states that “alot” is not a word.
Personal and Impersonal Pronouns • Don’t refer to organizations as people. • Great West Life is based in Winnipeg. They sell insurance. • Great West Life is based in Winnipeg.It sells insurance. • MTS should change their policy on Internet security. • MTS should change its policy on Internet security. • Use personal pronouns with people. • Sally bought milk from the man that owns the store. • Sally bought milk from the man who owns the store.
Don’t refer to yourself as “you” • Only use “you” to refer directly to the reader • The boss often yells at me. When he does that, you want to rip his lungs out. • The boss often yells at me. When he does that, I want to rip his lungs out. • I like skiing because it gets you out in the winter. • I like skiing because it gets me out in the winter. • In Indonesia, you can find people of every faith. • I saw people of every faith in Indonesia. • People of every faith live in Indonesia.
Watch out for “it” and “there” • It and there are expletives (filler words) • There is never the subject of the sentence • Look elsewhere to find the subject • There are squirrels in your garage. • (Subject is squirrels) • There is a good deli on the corner. • (Subject is deli) • It is always singular • It was Homer who put glue on your chair • It was Bart and Lisa who put soap in the toilet